Gas generator and burner



G. W. CORBETT GAS GENERATOR AND BURNER Original Filed Feb. 18. 1922 April 22 Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

um'rsn STATE-S iaeaeia PATENT orrics.

GEoneE w. CORBETT, or OHICAGQILLINOIS.

GAS GENERATOR AND BURNER.

Continuation of application Serial No. 537,411, filed. February 18, 1922. This application filed August 28,

' 1922. Serial Elo. 584,651.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I, GEORGE W. Conen'r'r,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State 5 of Illinois, have invented certain new'and usefullmprovements in Gas Generators and Burners, of whichthe following is a specification. I

This invention relates to gas generators 1 and burners.

This application is a continuation of my copending application, Serial Number 537,411, filed February 18, 1922. 7

One object of the invention isto provide a simple, compact and efficient gas genera-tor and burner whichhas relatively few parts, which parts cooperate to meet the various requirements. for successful commercial use.

Another object is to provide a combined gas generator andburner which is silent in operation and which throws a large white. flame, the gas being generated from any of the relativelyheavy hydrocarbons.

Another object is to provide a combined gas generator and burner in which steam is formed and in turn prevents the deposition of carbon at-the points Where the flame is formed.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed by the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my gas generator and burnershown installed in a furnace;

Figure 2 is an ber; I

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the generator element; and

Figure 5 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the generator member and cover fitting over same.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly" pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that the combined generator and burner includes a main base member having a central vertical passageway 11 through which air passes upwardly. Mounted on top of the member 10 is a cone-shaped elevation of the base memgenerator member 12 having in its upper portion a cone-shaped receptacle 13 for the. reception of the hydrocarbon which is supplied thereto through a supply pipe 14 extending upwardly through the passageway 11. The upper end of the receptacle 13 is provided with an opening 15 through which the hydrocarbon overflows and passes downwardly over the exterior heated surface of the generator member 12. The generator member on its outer surface is provided with a plurality of annular ribs .16 each of which forms an annular groove or pocket18 for the reception of hydrocarbonwhich overflows through the opening 15 of the receptacle 13. Mounted over the cone shaped generator member 12 is a cone-shaped cover 17 the interior surface of which rests uponthe annular ribs 16. V

In view of the fact that the parts 10, 12 and 17 are castings and that th ribs 16 and the interior surface of the cover 17 are provided with slightly rough surfaces as withdrawn from the molds, it will be understood that there will be an exceedingly large number of relatively small openings or passageways between the edges of the ribs 16 and the interior surface of the cover 17 through which hydrocarbon and the gas formed therefrom may pass downwardly. Projecting downwardly from the apex of the cover] l7'is an extension 19 which passes downwardly through the opening 15 in a manner to provide an equal space between the projection 19 and the member 12 all the way around theopening 15,. i In this way an equal distribution of hydrocarbon passing downwardly through the opening 15 is assured.

" Formed integrally with the member 12 at the inner side thereof are a plurality of lugs or legs 20 having tapped openings 21 for the reception of studs 22,.the lower ends of which rest upon an inwardly extending fiangel 23 formed on the base member 10 whereby the height of the generator member 12 and cover 17 may be varied with respect to the base member 10 for adjusting or regulating the size of the passageway 24 for air and steam to be referred to later, said passageway being above the base member 10 and below the generator member '12 and cover 17. Lock nuts 25 may be used on the studs 22 for locking said studs in any adjusted position. The gas resulting from the furnace heating of the hydrocarbon on the generator member escapes through an annular opening 26 between the members 12 and 17 at the lower ends thereof and is there mixed with air and steam to form a combustible mixture and to prevent the deposition of carbon.

Steam is generated from water which is supplied to an annular receptacle 27 in the base member 10, said water being supplied through any suitable pipe 2-8.. The base member is provided with an interiorly arranged annular trough 29 into which hydrocarbon is permitted to flow in the first instance preparatory to starting, such hydrocarbon being ignited for preliminarily heating the generator. T 0 control the amount of hydrocarbon which may accumulate in the trough 29 upon starting, an overflow pipe 30 is provided. Preferably a sheet of asbestos 31 is provided in the lower portion of the generator 12 to prevent cold air from passing up into the generator and thereby cooling the surfaces thereof. The sole function of the air is to pass through the generator at a point where it can mix with the gas to form a combustible mixture and to mix with the steam to prevent the deposition of carbon.

Attention is called to the fact that the gas generator and burner is mounted in a above the grate line 32 on top of which material is placed for the prevention of a draft of air therethrough. If air should pass upwardly through such sealing medium it would prevent the formation of an economical combustible mixture.

The generator preferably has sloping sides so that the hydrocarbon will not flow too rapidly, thereby giving sufiicient time for gas to form from the hydrocarbon.

In connection with the complete operation of this combined gas generator and burner, initial hydrocarbon is permitted to flow downwardly between the members 12 and 17 into the trough 29. Such h drocarbon is then ignited to thoroughly eat the gas generator and steam generator surfaces. When the hydrocarbon in the trough 29 is completely burned, no further hydrocarbon passes thereinto, it being understood that'if an excess amount is-initially supplied such excess will overflow into the pipe 30. The members 12 and 17 being heated by initial burning of the hydrocarbon, it is apparent that the hydrocarbon flowing slowly downwardly over the generator 12 and between the latter and the cover 17 through the exceedingly large number of relatively small openings, as explained above, will be changed to gas, such gas issuing through the annular opening 26 at the lower endsof the members 12 and 17 adjacent the base member 10. At this point the gas is mixed with air which passes upwardly through the central opening 11 and radially outwardly through the opening 24. between the base member 10 and the generator member 12. As explained above, the quantity of flow of air is controlled by adjusting the studs 22 with respect to the generator member 12. Not only does air mix with the gas at such point to form a combustible mixture, but also steam formed in the water basin 27 flows outwardly through the opening 24 for preventing a deposition of carbon at the exit opening of the gas.

The combustible mixture being formed just below the annular opening 26, a large hot white flame spreads radially outwardly and then upwardly for heating the surfaces to be heated, such for example, as the surfaces of a furnace or boiler.

Preferably the parts 10, 12 and 17 of the combined gas generator and burner are of iron castings sufficiently thick to withstand the intense heat resulting from the combustion of the combustible mixture formed.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a combined gas generator and burner, the combination of a base member having an air passageway, a gas generator member mounted over said base member and permitting a flow of air therebetween, a cover mounted over said generator member to permit the passage of a hydrocarbon therebetween, the latter of which is changed to gas by heat of the combustion of previously formed gas, generated gas passing from between said generator member and cover being mixed with air to form a combustible mixture, said base having a water receptacle located intermediate its air passageway and the point of exit of the gas in which water receptacle steam is formed to prevent the deposition of carbon at the point of exit of the gas.

2. In a combined gas generator and burner, the combination of a base member, a generator member, and a cover member, said base member and generator member being spaced to permit the passage of air therebetween, and said generator member and cover being spaced to permit the passage of hydrocarbon therebetween, gas formed from the hydrocarbon and the air mixing to form a combustible mixture, said base having a water receptacle in which steam is formed to mix with'said air and prevent the deposition of carbon at the point of exit of the formed gas, said water receptacle being located so that the steam therefrom mixes with the air before mixing with the gas.

3. In a combined gas generator and burner, the combination of a base member having a support thereon and an air passageway, a cone-shaped generator member mounted over said base member, studs interposed between the support on said base member and generator member whereby the size of an air passageway between said base member and generator member may; be regulated, said gas generator member having a receptacle formed in the upper part thereof, and a cone-shaped cover mounted over said gas generator member and for permitting the flow of hydrocarbon from said hydrocarbon receptacle downwardly between said generator member and cover for forming gas, the gas and air combining at the base member for vforming a combustible mixture.

4:. In a combined gas generator and burner, the combination of a base member, a generator member, a cover member, and means for adjusting the spacing between said base member and generator member for regulating the flow of air thereloetween, said generator member and cover being associated with each other in a manner to permit the passage of hydrocarbon therebetween, gas formed from the hydrocarbon and the air mixing to form a combustible mixture.

5. In a combined gas generator and burner, the combination of a base member having an air passageway, a cone-shaped gas generator member mounted over said base member, means interposed between said base member and generator member for varying the size of an air passageway therebetween, said generator member having annular ribs thereon to form grooves for the reception of hydrocarbon flowing downwardly over said generatormember, and a cone-shaped cover mounted over said generator member and engaging said ribs and permitting the flow of hydrocarbon downwardly over the generator between the latter and the cover ,for the formation of gas,

the formed gas mixing with air adjacent the base member forforming a combustible mixture.

6. In a combined gas generator and burner, the combination of a base member having a central'air passageway, a coneshaped gas generator member mounted thereover, means interposed between said base member and generator member for spacing the two and regulating the size of an opening therebetween to permit an outward flow of air, said generator member having a hydrocarbon receptacle formed in the upper part thereof and annular ribs on its exterior surface forming annular grooves for the reception of hydrocarbon overflowing from said receptacle, and a cone-shaped cover member having a projection extending downwardly into the opening of the hydrocarbon receptacle for distributing the flow of hydrocarbon therefrom, said cover member engaging the ribs on said generator member in a manner to permit the flow of hydrocarbon and generated gas, the generated gas and air mixing adjacent the base member to form a combustible mixture.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day of August, 1922.

GEORGE W. CORBETI. 

